{
  "id": 9337823,
  "title": "Civil society groups call on Malaysia to stop Rohingya returns",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/civil-society-groups-call-on-malaysia-to-stop-rohingya-returns",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T12:47:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/09/23/civil-society-groups-call-on-malaysia-to-stop-rohingya-returns"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On February 1st, Malaysia was home to approximately 193,800 refugees from Myanmar, with a significant number being Rohingya, according to the United Nations. Over 160 civil society organizations have jointly issued a statement, urging the Malaysian government to halt any plans to deport Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar, citing the high risk of continued violence and forced conscription. The groups are deeply concerned over Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's suggestion to seek cooperation from Myanmar's junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, to repatriate Rohingya, a Muslim minority group who have long faced persecution in Myanmar.\n\nCurrently, Malaysia aims to return 1,500 refugees on September 29, marking the initial phase of their deportation plan. However, Myanmar has agreed to take back 5,000 refugees, though the specific details of their identities remain undisclosed. Anwar Ibrahim has expressed his intention to invite Min Aung Hlaing to Malaysia in exchange for accepting Rohingya refugees. The statement emphasizes that Min Aung Hlaing is responsible for the genocide committed against Rohingya following the military's crackdown on the community, and the International Criminal Court is currently deliberating whether to issue an arrest warrant against him.\n\nMyanmar, which does not consider Rohingya as an ethnic group, has previously claimed that their military operations in Rakhine state were a response to militant attacks. The groups warn that Rohingya refugees, upon their return to Myanmar, might be forced to join various armed groups, including the military, the Arakan Army, and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. Thousands of Rohingya flee Myanmar annually, often undertaking perilous journeys by rickety boats and overland routes. Myanmar's military is engaged in conflict with the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group based in Rakhine state, where a large number of Rohingya have been displaced due to the military's actions.",
  "summary": "More than 160 civil society organisations cite risks of ongoing violence and forced conscription in Myanmar.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Civil society groups call on Malaysia to stop Rohingya returns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/civil-society-groups-call-on-malaysia-to-stop-rohingya-returns-9340080",
        "published": "2026-09-23T12:47:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}